Vacuum cleaner



May 15, 1956 R. c. OSBORN 2,745,512

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Aug. 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l k 0% INVENTOR. I w u 32a i w WWW R. C. OSBORN VACUUM CLEANER May 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1953 INVENTOR. 62 4 01? 6 $950172 fln w wdfl United States Patent VACUUM Ralph C. Osborn, Bloonjington, lil. Application August 11, 195 3,;SerialNo. 373,542 4 l m to. 183-37 My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and particularly to vacuum cleaners of the canister type.

In vacuum cleaners generally use much difliculty is encountered in repair and service of the various parts. Generally these cleaners are so constructed that a substantial amount of time and a great many hand operations are necessary to disassemble a machine requiring service and frequently special tools are required. Vacuum cleaners being household articles, it is desirable that such repairs as may be necessary should be made as quickly as possible and with a minimum of effort. It is also desirable from the manufacturers consideration to be able to fabricate a vacuum cleaner with relatively few parts and from a minimum number of individual subassernbly units, each of which may 'be constructed cheaply. It is also important that such subassemblies of parts be constructed in such a way that these assemblies may be .incorporated into ;a finished vacuum cleaner inexpensively and with a minimum of effort.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which may readily be disassembled for inspection or repair.

Another object of my invention is (to provide a vacuum cleaner in which the motor and blower unit may be quickly removed and replaced by a relatively few hand operations.

Another object of my invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner fabricated from a minimum number of subassembly parts which may be readily assembled into a completed vacutun cleaner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel suction means support designed in such a way as to .cooperate with the suction means to hold the basic :parts of the vacuum cleaner in assembled relation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which may be fabricated of a relatively few number of parts and which may be made and assembled inexpensively. These and other objects of my invention will become readily apparent from the following description and drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional view of my improved canister type vacuum cleaner;

Fig. 2 is a partial top plan view showing the cover, a portion of the handle and one side of the locking means;

Fig. 3 is an exploded sectional view showing the parts in disassembled relation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the assembly between .the low pressure and high pressure chambers.

In its preferred form the vacuumcleaner comprises an upper or low pressure chamber generally circumscribed by a wall 10, a bottom or high pressure chamber pan or receptacle 12 and a motor 14 adapted to drive a suction fan within a fan housing 16. The chamber 19 has a top opening of a diameter larger than the fan housing so that the fan housing and motor may be withdrawn and inserted ice therethrough. opening is closed by a cover 18 hav ing a ene a ly y nd i a o zl r e v ng c ll r -20 wh ch ar e c ea e s retaining means in the term .o a .cQup a a ap to Pe m r o of h hos conn ecto r 21. In the present instance I have illustrated a coupling in the form of a pair of studs 22 projecting through the collar 20 and adapted to cooperate with a ci umf rent a recess adj the end o t hose canneotor 2:1. The studs 22 are yieldingly held ;in place by means of 1a rubber or other elastic band 24 extending around the collarZtl and the hat portion ,of the studs 22.

Secured to opposite sides of the upper part .of the cover 18 are a pair of brackets 25 terminating at their ends in oppositely disposed hook portions 28 adapted to en ea ed ds 0 s w t th p h urn flange of the 10. Qrnamen-tal cap screws 32 are threaded on the studs 30 to removably hold the cover in closed position. -P -ivotally attached to the other ends of brackets 26 is a handle 34 which may be pivoted down- Wardly to permit complete rotation of the hose connector 21 the coupling means.

The upper part of the chamber wall 19 defines a cover receiving opening and has an annular shoulder 36 adapted to receive a gasketed neck portion 33 of a cleaner bag 40 w h pa t a y rests P 1 a dom pe cr e 42 s cured to the fan housing 16.

The chamber wall liiis generally of cylindrical shape and terminates at its lower end in an outwardly turned fla e .44 (s t h h i se u ed a di ph a 46 having a lower shoulder portion 48 and an opening 5!). s show mo e p icu ar n i 4, the ute e f diaphragm ,46 is bent downwardly to encompass the upper Pe ip era p rt n of t bo m P l T e diaphr gm 4 epa a s t e high and o Pre e sham- :bers ofthe cleaner and it is ,t-herefor desirable to insure aga ns ai e ka h s ma h d n by mea eta-n annu a as et 5lnosi c ed etwe n t e flan e 44 and diaphragm 46. This assembly of the flange .45, dian r gm 6 an a ke 1 1mm t ma tai ed n se r a io ship by a n ng mean s a a pl al ty of et .52-

he an u a h ulde 48 definin opening 50 li 'Q s ch a i a to me v va ri aske 21 55 a a n whi h the lower per phe a d e of he an h u i 1. eats. T d aph a 46 may h onstruc e o s ee m t -Lot suc caus a to adeq a e y support th s ction -u1QaI h e :iu ly de c ed h eina A rac 56 supp th me e 12 5 ax; ho sin an se u ed to the br e by m an o bol s 15 i a bar .69 h ving a h e ed bolt s2 wel here o- Ihe bel i of a length su fi ien t e end thr gh a opening in a re essed p r ion 4 f h bo tom na s12, when th fan housing 16 is in place on the gasket 54.

A source of electrical power may be provided in the lower chamber by means of wires 56 connected to the motor 14 through -,a switch 68, the arm ,of which e);- tends through the pan .wall 12. The ,high pressure chamber also has an outlet in the form of a hose coupling 72 which in the normal cleaning operation is open to atmosphere. When the cleaner is to be used as a blowen-this li mechanismis ad pt d o re e e a hos o n ction in the manner as is done in connection with the coupling means of the cover.

S n the a s mb of e an a4 and th :tt ah a m may p es t a sham e e l k y to fur i ure when the cleane s sh tt r m p ac t pla e. I ha e rr yis ed an annular bumper guard 74 of rubber, plastic or other material not likely to scratch or mar furniture. As shown particularly in Fig. 4, this bumper guard is of a size to snugly fit the upper chamber wall and has a depending skirt portion enveloping the flange 44, the peripheral edge of the diaphragm 46 and the upper peripheral edge of the pan wall 12. This bumper guard also provides a streamlined or symmetrical appearance to the cleaner.

From the foregoing description of the parts, it is apparent that the bottom pan section may be fabricated as a unitary piece with appropriate holesformed therein. As shown in the bottom of Fig. 3, the hose coupling 72., the leads 66 and the switch 68 may be assembled on the chamber wall 12; The upper chamber 14 may also be readily fabricated as a subassembly unit including a chamber wall 10, the diaphragm 46 With the gasket 54 and the cover holding mechanism. The suction means including the motor, fan and fan housing together with the screen may also be fabricated as a subassembly unit to which the bracket 56 and the bolt 62 may be secured.

, The completion of the assembly of the cleaner is then simple. T re upper chamber is placed so as to slightly overlap the upper peripheral edge of the pan 12. The

electrical circuit is completed by connecting the appropriate wires and the motor, fan and fan housing unit is inserted through the top opening and placed in position such that the fan housing 16 contacts the gasket 54 in the shoulder 48 of the diaphragm 46, thus sub stantially closing the opening between the high pressure and low pressure chambers. In this position the bolt 62 will extend through the opening in the recessed portion 64 of the chamber wall 12. When a nut is applied to the bolt and tightened, the fan housing will be drawn tight against the gasket 48 and the lower chamber wall merely necessary to remove the nut from the bolt 62 and the whole upper chamber and suction means may be lifted from the lower chamber.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have devised a vacuum cleaner of relatively simple construction and i one in which the low pressure chamber is partitioned from the high pressur'e chamber by means of a diaphragm which is also utilized as a support for the suction unit. It is also apparent that I have devised a vacuum cleaner in whicha relatively few parts are used and which parts may be readily fabricated into individual subassembly units.- These subassembly units may be quickly assembled by unskilled labor to form a completed vacuum cleaner. This structure is also particularly beneficial in that ready access is permitted to the various portions of the cleaner for inspection or repair purposes and that such access is achieved by a minimum of simple hand operations.

I claim:

1 A device of the type described comprising a first chamber defined by an encompassing side wall, a diaphragm fixed to the lower portion of the side wall, and a cover carried by the upper portion of the side wall, said diaphragm being formed with an opening, suction means carried by said diaphragm and disposed in said opening, said cover being formed with an inlet, a cleaner bag within said first chamber adjacent said suction means, said inlet leading to said cleaner bag, a receptacle including an encompassing side wall merging into a bottom wall, said first chamber being supported by said receptacle side wall, said diaphragm and said receptacle diaphragm defining the lower portion of said chamber,

said diaphragm being formed with a central opening, suction means carried by said diaphragm and disposed in said opening, a cleaner bag within said low pressure chamber adjacent said suction means-,- said inlet leading to said cleaner bag, a lower high pressure chamber having an outlet formed therein, said lower chamber including an encompassing side wall, said upper chamber resting on the upper periphery of said side wall, said diaphragm defining the upper portion of said second chamber, and means securing said suction means to said lower chamher, said means also detachably securing said chambers in assembled relation; r

3. A-device of the type described comprising a first chamber defined by an encompassing side wall, a diaphragm fixed to the lower portion of said side wall, and a cover carried by the upper portion of said side wall, said diaphragm being formed with an opening, gasket means carried by said diaphragm adjacent said opening, suction means disposed in said opening and resting on said gasket means, said cover being formed with an inlet, gasket means separating the lower portion of said side wall and said diaphragm, a cleaner bag within said first chamber adjacent said suction means, said inlet leading to said cleaner bag, a receptacle including an encompassing side wall merging into a bottom wall, said first chamber being supported on the upper periphery of said receptacle side wall, said diaphragm and said receptacle defining a second chamber, said receptacle being formed with an outlet, and means securing said suction means to said receptacle, said rneans detachably securing the said chambers in assembled relation.

4. A device of the type described comprising a first chamber defined by an encompassing side wall, a diaphragm fixed to the lower portion'of said side wall, and a cover carried by the upper portion of said side wall, a pair of brackets secured to the Opposite sides of the I upper surface of said cover, said brackets comprising oppositely extending generally horizontal portions, and

generally vertical portions, a handle pivotally attached to said vertical portions, a pair of generally vertical studs carried by the upper portion of said side wall, said horizontal portions of said brackets being formed to receive said studs, caps carried by said studs, said diaphragm being formed with an opening, gasket means carried by said diaphragm adjacent said opening,'suction means disposed in said opening and resting on said gasket means, said cover being formed with an inlet, gasket -means separating the lower portion of said side Wall and said diaphragm, a cleaner bag within said first chamber adjacent said suction means, said inlet leading to said cleaner bag, a receptacle including an encompassing side wall merging into a bottom wall, said first chamber being supported on the upper periphery of said receptacle side wall, said diaphragm and said receptacle defining a second chamber, said receptacle being formed with an outlet, and means securingsaid suction means to said receptacle, said means detachably securing said chambers in assembled relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,847,352 7 McClatchie Mar. 1, 1932 

